Data protection
As the digital society evolves, ever more data is being collected from people, their devices and their movements. Close to unlimited storage, along with data analytics, automated decision-making and artificial intelligence, bring not only opportunities, but also risks, making data protection increasingly important.
What is data protection? In essence, data protection covers confidentiality, integrity and availability of information. Both customers and employees of telecommunications companies have rights to privacy. Data protection policies cover which types of information are gathered and the ways in which the information is obtained, used and stored, including informed consent.
At Telenor, we are committed to protecting the privacy of our customers and creating and maintaining secure and privacy-friendly services that customers can use without having to worry about having their integrity and personal sphere being compromised.
Processing personal data at a very large scale is a core task of electronic communications companies. Due to the sensitivity and volume of the information, strict standards of protection of personal data is part of an operator’s licence to operate. These standards are necessary to secure the integrity, confidentiality and availability of information.
New privacy risks that come with the growth of artificial intelligence is an area of concern. In response, we are developing practices to manage these new risks, in particular those related to generative AI.
Responsible use of artificial intelligence
Freedom of expression and privacy are key to our core business. These rights must be balanced against the interests of relevant authorities as defined by law. Many stakeholders, including governments, are increasingly focused on data protection as well as on new surveillance legislation for fighting crime and terrorism.
Regulatory attention to data protection issues remains high in Europe, where comprehensive data protection and privacy legislation is in place. In the Asian markets where Telenor operates there is an ongoing introduction of data protection and privacy legislation.
Telenor’s Privacy Policy
At Telenor, we’re continuously developing best practice guidelines for all of our businesses. We have created privacy communities, connecting privacy experts within the group, so they can share knowledge across our business areas and subsidiaries. Telenor also has a global Privacy Policy that outlines fundamental principles for processing of personal data and general expectations for all Telenor companies.
Telenor’s Privacy Policy covers key areas, such as:
Management and reporting of privacy related risks and a system of internal controls for privacy
Management of external regulatory requirements for the privacy area
Implementation and operation of key processes related to management of personal data
Management of risks related to cross-border transfers of personal data
Management and monitoring of third-parties processing personal data
Internal training and awareness related to privacy
Management of threats to privacy caused by algorithms and AI